Fako SDO: Sensitisation, best way to fight Ebola

As authorities in Cameroon continue to put in place stringent measures to prevent the spread of the Ebola Virus in the country, the Senior Divisional Officer for Fako, Zang III, has called on the population to be well equipped with necessary information about the virus, especially in terms of its preventive methods.

The Fako Boss during a Press briefing in Limbe on August 22 said sensitisation is the main measure in fighting Ebola, and called on pressmen to relent no effort in educating the population about it.

“The population has to be educated on this virus to have an understanding on the mechanism of this illness-we call on the media to effectively sensitise the population”, he said.

Preceding the call, Zang III mentioned the causes, symptoms, methods of prevention and the measures being put in place by the government to combat the virus from spreading in the country.

The suspension of movements of people between Nigeria and Cameroon, through air, land and sea has been the main measure at the national level, he stated, while at the level of Fako “We are very concerned with maritime movement within the three ports that is Bota-Limbe, Idenau and Tiko ports; since last Saturday, movement has been suspended between Nigeria and Cameroon within these three ports”, Zang explained and mentioned that the measure is not meant to slow down economic activities, but it’s for the safety of the entire nation since some Ebola cases have been detected in Nigeria.

As another measure, the SDO explained that the government has provided kits to tackle suspected cases and a seminar has been organised for medical experts on the virus.

Zang III called on the population to avoid habits that can spur the spread of the disease, like consuming bush meat, and living in unhygienic conditions and said the borders will be open once it is observed that there is no risk.

It should be noted that the Ebola Virus is a rare but deadly virus that causes bleeding inside and outside the body.As the virus spreads through the body, it damages the immune system and organs.

Ultimately, it causes levels of blood-clotting cells to drop which leads to severe, uncontrollable bleeding.The disease, also known as Ebola hemorrhagic fever, kills up to 90% of people who are infected.

Symptoms show up two to twenty-one days after infection and usually include:High fever, Headache, Joint and muscle aches, Sore throat, Weakness, Stomach pain, Lack of appetite etc.

As the disease gets worse, it causes bleeding inside the body, as well as from the eyes, ears, and nose. Some people will vomit or cough up blood, have bloody diarrhoea, and get a rash.

When an infection does occur in humans, the virus can be spread in several ways to others. The virus is spread through direct contact (through broken skin or mucous membranes) with a sick person’s blood or body fluids (urine, saliva, faeces, vomit, and semen), objects (such as needles) that have been contaminated with infected body fluids and infected animals.

Nonetheless, it cannot be contracted from air, water, or food and a person who has Ebola but has no symptoms can’t spread the disease, either.

The 2014 Ebola outbreak is said to be one of the largest Ebola outbreaks in history and the first in West Africa. It is affecting four countries in West Africa: Guinea, Liberia, Nigeria, and Sierra Leone.